Tutu Puoane’s Wrapped in Rhythm features words by poet Lebo Mashile.
© Tom Vandewalle
Wrapped in Rhythm powerfully uses the poems of Lebo Mashile as lyrics.
Pianist Maurice El Medioni performing on stage.
Photo by Andy Sheppard/Redferns
Listening to El Medioni’s work is a deep dive into the history of north African Jews over the last 150 years, long pre-dating his birth.
South African pianist Abdullah Ibrahim in 2014.
Andy Sheppard/Redferns/Getty Images
In his work Abdullah Ibrahim looks to the past to offer a vision of the future.
Miriam Makeba was the first African to win a Grammy, but only when she partnered with a US star, Harry Belafonte.
Michael Ochs Archives/Getty Images
African artists with major US industry support have the advantage - now more than ever.
Kora star Ballaké Sissoko at the sacred place of Sanementereng in The Gambia.
Screengrab/Ballaké Sissoko: Kora Tales/Vimeo
The extraordinary documentary Ballaké Sissoko: Kora Tales takes a journey from Mali to The Gambia.
Tsonga-inspired musician and writer Maya Wegerif AKA Sho Madjozi in Johannesburg.
Jemal Countess/Getty Images for Global Citizen Festival: Mandela 100
Costume, hair and dance allow her to modernise Tsonga culture – and help shape youth identity.
Axmed Naaji (left) performs in London, where he lived in exile in the later part of his life.
Screengrab/YouTube/Kayd Somali Arts and Culture
For six decades he was a household name in urban Somalia.
A procession in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia.
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Musicians established themselves in the US, where they continued to practice their cultural life, which flourished.
Winky D’s hit Ibotso has seen him removed from stage by police.
Screengrab/Happy Again/winkyonline
In his music, he positions himself within the people’s struggles and identifies with them.
Davido has gone back to work after the death of his young son.
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The album doesn’t live up to the hype - but features some decent collaborations.
Rising amapiano star DBN Gogo performs in Dakar, Senegal.
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The annual South African Amapiano Awards will be held on 2 April, a tribute to the growing stature of the dance music genre.
Gloria Bosman in 2022.
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If you ever found yourself in the same room with Gloria Bosman, you were in for a lesson of a lifetime.
Bosman won numerous awards, including the Standard Bank Young Artist award and two South African Music Awards.
Oupa Bopape/Gallo Images/Getty Images
Her passing shocked the nation and drew praise for her unique vocal powers and musical mentorship.
Wizkid performs at London’s O2 Arena in 2021.
Michael Tubi/Alamy Stock Photo
People’s Democratic Party candidate Atiku Abubakar released a choreographed video to Davido’s Stand Strong, which references devotion. It’s his sixth time standing for president.
The Zangalewa Dance Troupe, inspired by the Cameroonian band Zangalewa, performs in a prison in Kenya.
Screengrab/YouTube/Mwalimu Cheche Productions
His band Zangalewa satirised Cameroon’s military from within - and helped create the football World Cup hit Waka Waka.
AKA performing in 2015, at the height of his fame.
Lefty Shivambu/Gallo Images/Getty Images
A cold-blooded shooting is a common trope in gangsta rap - but a disturbing new development in South African hip-hop.
Siddi children performing Dance Dhamaal in Ahmedabad in Gujarat, India.
Courtesy Sayan Dey
Dhamaal music and dance reveals a rich and complex mixing of cultures that is shaped by history.
Angelique Kidjo on stage in Paris in 2021.
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Kidjo has a remarkable cultural vision that spans the globe but stays true to her roots.
Madosini performing in Johannesburg in 2021.
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The queen of Xhosa music has passed away. She reinvigorated ancient Xhosa cultural traditions through performance and teaching.
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New survey shows poor earnings from music streaming made worse by the digital divide and a lack of policy.